Press Release

March ’18 Message from the CEO

In last month’s newsletter I started by saying spring is almost here. I think I was a month off. I am sure April will be warmer and the work outdoors will begin in earnest for all of us.

We have had a very positive transition in our recruitment for an OB/GYN. I communicated in my last newsletter memo that we were assessing our OB service line. During this review, I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Michael Ryskin, OB/GYN, regarding our opportunity here at Henry County Health Center. We have worked with Dr. Ryskin the last few months during our search for an OB/GYN since Dr. Smith’s retirement this past October. After reviewing our opportunity and the exciting growth capabilities with our women’s health services, Dr. Ryskin signed a letter of intent to be HCHC’s full time OB/GYN. We are all very excited to have Dr. Ryskin join our medical community. Dr. Ryskin is a great person. He is also a very skilled and competent obstetrician and gynecological surgeon who will do an outstanding job here serving our community. He has also become very impressed with our organization over the last several months. As he told me, “there is just something special about this place.”

I am very thankful and honored to work with dedicated medical staff and associates who make such a comment possible. The plan is to have Dr. Ryskin start full time in June at the health center, working alongside Kendra Bonnesen CNM, FNP, and Kari Payne, CNM, providing health care for area women. I would like to recognize all of the dedication and commitment to high quality patient service that our Maternity Services nurses have provided over the last several months during this difficult recruitment process. I would like to thank Maternity Services Director Shayla Malone and our OB nurses who have all done a tremendous job. I would also like to thank and recognize the wonderful medical community at HCHC who have, and will continue to provide, outstanding health care for our women’s health patients. Kendra and Kari continue to provide a high level of quality of service for their patients, along with anesthesia providers Todd Ralls, Matt Miller and Steve Park, and all of our outpatient professional services which include surgery, lab and radiology. Our women’s health program has, and will continue to, move forward to serve our community.

We are continuing to move forward on implementing Rural Health Clinics for HCHC. One of the key moves with this transition is having our Orthopedic and General Surgery Clinics move to the former Family Vision suite in the medical office building. The Board of Trustees did approve at their March board meeting to move forward with the bid letting process to renovate this suite for a new location for Orthopedic and General Surgery Clinic services. We believe we have a great design which will work very well to serve our community and allow for growth capabilities in the future. I would like to thank Invision, the architect firm we have worked with through this project, along with all of our staff who provided great insight into the design. We look forward to receiving the bids in April at the Trustees meeting and hope to begin the renovation project sometime in May.

National Doctor’s day is March 30. This is a day nationally that we recognize physicians for all of their commitment and contributions to serve and care for their communities. HCHC would like to recognize all of our providers for the high quality service and compassion we provide to our patients and community.

Thanks again for taking the time to read our e-newsletter. Please make sure to look at the current newsletter to review the different events that will be occurring here at the health center that you may find benefit from. As always, I hope you find it informative and helpful for your health care. If you should happen to have any questions, please feel free to contact Shelley Doak or myself and we will be happy to follow up with you.